An example of how I might display; lots and lots of photo frames filled with the cheap photo booklets. The photos on these booklets all look the same; a photograph of beautiful women laughing, repeated over and over. Their place in the photo frames suggests firstly their personal nature, (placed in a context where family photos or treasured items might exist) while their placement in frames (which suggests importance) contrasts to their repetitious image.
This shows the photo project in one; to us, out moments and personal selves are important, we want to show the world and take many; yet they are a repetitious series of images, they all are about front (as the booklets are) about construction of image, while hiding the truths underneath (as the gritty photos underneath the flaps of the booklets show) It further suggests our need to show the world that we are here, that we have experiences; they are on show in frames, important images of the same experience. It is also a cross over of public/private; suggesting firstly that we are happier to show the world our lives and selves by giving images out willy nilly, but also that the private moments, which are hidden like gems under the bland covers, are still exsistant.
I showed a lot of people all the photos so far and I got so much positive feedback. What people like most is that they can go through the photos and look at people. They are excited to discover photos, excited to look at people and wonder who they are, why they are posing, what they are doing. A lot of people commented that it was a strangely moving experience; you witness personal moments of other people; it's like viewing snapshots of humanity. Someone also suggested that because all the people were posing similarly to how her friends might pose, she felt as if knew them, or could relate to them. Most people understood the context of construction and experience of reality instantly. I asked them all is they would take part in a project if they saw a camera asking them to. Most people said: Of course not! but when I pressed them said they might. this seems to link to the people who wont take the camera if others are watching them; people worry about being seen to care about photos.
This has made me content that I need to keep the photos interactive and to keep the booklets; the project is a found photography project in that I "find" the photos others leave, and the viewer "finds" moments in each pack. I kind of think that looking at others also is a strange reassurance; because we are anxious about photography, and who has an image of us, if we cannot construct a reality- by looking at others in the act of constructing, we are reassured by their actions.
I need to take more photos, but this seems good!
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